Tomase: 10 WooSox worth watching as Polar Park opens
After 50 years in Pawtucket, the Red Sox will officially christen Worcester's Polar Park as their new Triple-A home on Tuesday.The WooSox open their home schedule with a six-game set vs. the Syracuse Mets and the games are definitely worth scrutinizing, because multiple players on the current roster will find their way to Boston this summer.So as a public service, here are 10 players -- a mix of prospects and veterans -- worth watching as the minor-league season heats up.
The switch-hitting jack-of-all-trades (sound familiar?) is only two seasons removed from slamming 28 home runs for the Texas Rangers and playing every position except pitcher and catcher. He's recovering from a toe infection that sidelined him late in spring training, and is joining Worcester after a rehab stint at Single-A Greenville.
With Franchy Cordero mired in a hellacious slump, it would seem that a starting outfield job in Boston could be Santana's to lose, provided he's healthy.
Yup, that Brandon Workman. The Red Sox closer was historically unhittable in 2019 and then thudded back to earth in 2020, especially after being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies for right-hander Nick Pivetta and Connor Seabold in an absolute fleecing.
He joined the Chicago Cubs this season on a $1 million deal but lasted just eight innings -- allowing nine runs on 12 hits and seven walks -- before designated for assignment last week. He needs to regain his fastball command, but no team knows him better than Boston, and the Red Sox bullpen is already showing some cracks.
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Welcome to the first glimpse of the future. While Red Sox fans have been clamoring for Duran since he lit up the Puerto Rican winter league World Series and then followed with a strong spring training, the reality is he has barely played above Double A and remains more toolsy than polished.
He has typically struggled when exposed to a new level, and even though he's already got one tape-measure home run, he has also struck out nine times in 23 at-bats. He needs more seasoning before he's a viable big league option.
Can you say, "Gulp?" The news that Houck will be shut down while dealing with a minor flexor strain in his elbow is certainly worrisome, though Red Sox manager Alex Cora insists the team is not overly concerned.
If Houck is healthy, he's the first man up should the Red Sox need a starter. He's 3-2 with a 1.98 ERA in his brief big league career, and the Red Sox can only hope his injury is indeed minor. After watching top pitching prospect Bryan Mata undergo Tommy John surgery, however, we'll keep our fingers crossed on Houck.
MLB.com's No. 40 overall prospect, Downs got off to a slow start on Worcester's opening road trip, going 0 for 10 in his first three games before rebounding with two hits apiece on Friday and Sunday.
Downs has played more shortstop than second base so far, but the latter is considered his likely home in the majors. He's hitting .217 with 10 strikeouts in 23 at-bats, and he's also looked a little shaky in the field, but the expectation is that he'll settle down.
As with Houck, Seabold gave Red Sox fans a reason to feel antsy when elbow inflammation delayed the start of his season. The team doesn't expect him to miss a lot of time, but Mata is once again a cautionary tale as just the latest example of a pitcher being shut down briefly before undergoing surgery. '
In any event, we're not there yet, and a healthy Seabold is a candidate to contribute to the Red Sox rotation in 2021. He had an eye-opening spring, hitting 97 mph while maintaining the overall mix that made him a prospect.
Bazardo has already gotten one look at the big leagues. He was summoned as the 27th man for an April doubleheader in Minnesota and ended up throwing a scoreless inning, walking two and striking out one.
Bazardo transformed himself from nondescript prospect to member of the 40-man roster by showing increased velocity last fall. The bespectacled right-hander features a mid-90s fastball and good curve. He could easily rejoin Red Sox at some point this summer.
The last player in the Mookie Betts trade is turning into more than a throw-in. Wong impressed in limited at-bats during spring training, launching a tape-measure home run to right-center over the 420-foot sign in JetBlue Park.
The 6-foot-1, 180-pounder is a converted infielder and extremely athletic, but the Red Sox love his communication and receiving skills behind the plate, and he brings surprising pop to a nontraditional catcher's frame. He has yet to appear in the big leagues, but he has spent time working out with the parent club as part of the taxi squad.
A former second-round pick of the Padres, Gettys joined the Red Sox this winter because he's neighbors with hitting coach Tim Hyers and wanted a fresh start.
He possesses explosive power and the potential for plus defense in center, but contact has always been his biggest challenge, with over 900 strikeouts in just under 700 minor league games. Gettys slammed 31 homers in the hitter-happy Pacific Coast League in 2019, but he's off to a 1-for-20 start in Worcester.
Given Chaim Bloom's emphasis on versatility, it should come as little surprise that he snatched up Munoz after St. Louis cut him in March of 2020. In two season with the Cardinals, Munoz played second, third, short, and all three outfield positions. He was one of the few bright spots for the Red Sox last year, hitting .333 in a dozen games.
He's somewhat of a forgotten man on the depth chart and in the outfield mix, but he shouldn't be. The right-handed hitter is off to a .381 start with Worcester.
